August 2025 Newsletter: New Licensees, AED Rules for PEP Procedures, CE Requirements

MISSISSIPPI STATE BOARD OF OPTOMETRY

Kimberly Johnson Ragan, OD

President Hilary Parrish, OD The Board administers examinations on the second Saturdays of Secretary January and July as statutorily required. The following optometrists

were newly licensed in July: Lori Blackmer, OD

Dax Eckard, OD Anna Middleton, OD Yvonne Laird Executive Director

Leyser Hayes

Special Assistant Attorney General Legal Counsel

Cynthia Brown

Rules Spotlight 5 Old River Place, Suite 105 Jackson, Mississippi 39202  If you are PEP-certified and perform PEP procedures Phone: (601) 919-1343 at your location, per the temporary rules that were Fax: (601) 919-1432

approved and filed in January, the following applies: www.msbo.ms.gov

info@msbo.ms.gov An in-person and hands-on AED course is required

and an AED device must be easily accessible for

PEP- The current Board members are: performing PEP procedures within their business. Source: Miss Code Ann. §§ 73-19-9, 73-19-153 certified optometrists only if they are  Don't forget your Continuing Education (CE) credits for 2025! The requirements for CEs are located on our website here (refer to Rules 4.1 and 4.2 for additional If you need to make information). The CPR requirement has changed to in- a change to your Board Licensed Optometrists person but if you have one year left from your two-of�ice address, mailing year certification last year, when you renew you must address, phone number enter it manually. The same applies for your two-year and/or name, please use Board Contact Information DEA credit. To report the second year of your 2-year the Change Noti�ication credits for CPR and/or DEA, enter the information form. It is located on the manually in the online renewal portal and complete website…here.the form here. NEWSLETTER Volume 11 Issue 3 August 2025 Scott Martin, OD Keely Cox, OD Madison Wilson, OD Joseph Schlesinger, OD Aimee Kinnebrew, OD Brannon Herring, OD Compliance Specialist Kristen Trainer, OD Kaitlin Medlin, OD Annie Govan, OD Bailey Kargo, OD Vi Nguyen, OD Meet our

NEW BOARD MEMBER

Dax Eckard, OD, Board Member

Third Supreme Court District

Dr. Dax McRee Eckard is originally from North Carolina and moved to Tupelo in 1980 when

he was 8 years old. After growing up in Tupelo, he attended the University of Mississippi where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1994. Dr. Eckard graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis in 1999. He is married to Dr. Beth Eckard who is a 1997 graduate of SCO and who practices part-time in their Tupelo of�ice. Dr. Eckard is one of the owners of Wesson and Mothershed Eye Center and has been practicing there since

1. He is a member of the AOA, MOA and First United Methodist Church in Tupelo. He served as an at-large member for 2 years on the board of MOA. After that, he served on the executive board of MOA rotating through all chairs. Dax and Beth have two children, Massie

and Addy. He enjoys his time with his family, gol�ing, shooting and getting to the beach

whenever he can.

Rules and Regulations

The current rules and regulations and the proposed rules and regulations (awaiting approval by the Occupational Licensing Review Commission) are located here. We anticipate approval of the proposed rules before the end of the year. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) FAQs are on the website for your use and information (here). Preceptors The Board of Optometry is seeking to expand its list of available preceptors. Pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. §73-19-1 et. sec. [HB 1302, 2021

Legislative Session], Mississippi licensed optometrists who wish to become certi�ied in

certain advanced procedures must participate in eight (8) additional hours of working under a preceptor who is either an ophthalmologist or licensed credentialed optometrist. If you are not a current preceptor and would like to apply, please use the application form located here. The Board will review your application at the next Board meeting in October. located on our website for your use:  Additional License Request  Predetermination

 Change Noti�ication  Public Information Request There are several other forms  

License Veri�ication Form Retired Status Application